Multiple Car Collisions Require Experienced Trial Lawyers

St. Louis car accident attorney Michelle M. Funkenbusch specializes in head on collisions like the following complex car crash that could require reconstruction, complex medical record reviews, and a trial against multiple defendants.

According to the news, a Forsyth woman was hospitalized following a three-car crash in Taney County Saturday evening. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Jodi M. Ebersol, 37, was driving a 1997 Ford Taurus east on Taney County F, five miles north of Branson, when her car was struck head on by a 1982 Honda Goldwing that had crossed the center line. According to the patrol report, the crash caused her car to swerve into the oncoming lane, hitting a 2004 Crown Victoria head on. Ms. Ebersol was treated for serious injuries.

The report said the motorcycle, driven by Benjamin K. Sanders, 31, of Branson, was being pursued at the time by the Crown Victoria, which was driven by Bernard H. Johnson, 69, of Rockaway Beach. It is unclear why he was being pursued.

Source: News-Leader.com, “Forsyth woman injured in crash,” 5 June 2011

At Featherston & Funkenbusch, we work hard to help you recover maximum compensation for lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, disability and reduced quality of life. Because of our experince in complex motor vehicle accident cases, we have handled many claims similar to the above accident. If you get in an accident like this, call today before giving any statements to insurance companies. Michelle is available 24/7, 314-842-5222 to provide you a free initial consultation on your accident case.

Today Attorney General Chris Koster released the 11th Annual Report on Vehicle Stops by Peace Officers in Missouri.  The 2010 report contains analysis on more than 1.6 million stops by 630 law enforcement agencies, including racial and ethnic information about drivers who were stopped. The full report plus data for individual law enforcement agencies can be found online at http://ago.mo.gov/VehicleStops.

Concerns by the citizens of Missouri regarding allegations of racial profiling by law enforcement prompted the legislature in the year 2000 to pass  Section 590.650, RSMo.  Racial profiling has been defined as the inappropriate use of race by law enforcement when making a decision to stop, search or arrest a motorist.  The law requires that all peace officers in the state report specific information including a driver’s race for each vehicle stop made in the state.  Law enforcement agencies are required to turn in the data to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General is required to compile the data and report to the Governor no later than June 1 of each year.   Interestingly, the law allows the Governor to withhold state funds for any agency that does not comply with the law.

In 2010, the Missouri statewide African-American disparity index was 1.61, down slightly from the 2009 rate of 1.62. This is the second time since data collection began that the disparity index for African-American drivers has decreased – the other being a decrease from 1.36 in 2003 to 1.34 in 2004.

The report shows the rate (disparity index) at which Hispanics were stopped decreased in 2010 to .78, compared to .81 in 2009, a rate lower than that of white drivers. However, search rates (the rates at which drivers of a given race are searched subsequent to a traffic stop) for both Hispanic and African-American drivers continue to be higher than for whites. Hispanic drivers were 2.13 times more likely than white drivers to be searched. African-Americans were 1.86 times more likely to be searched when stopped than whites.

Despite the elevated search rates, Hispanics were less likely than white drivers to be found with contraband subsequent to being searched. While the “contraband hit rate” for whites was 24.5 percent, the percentage of Hispanics searched and found to have contraband was 14.4 percent. The “contraband hit rate” for African-American drivers was 17.5 percent.

Funkenbusch encourages you to view your individual community on the Attorney General’s site.

© 2011 The Law Offices of Michelle M. Funkenbusch, LLC.  All Rights Reserved. These materials may not be reproduced in any way without the written permission of The Law Offices of Michelle M. Funkenbusch, LLC. This blog is designed to provide general information on the topic provided and is posted with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering any legal or professional services. Although this post and the blog is prepared by a lawyer, it should not be used as a substitute for legal advice. If legal advice is required, the services of The Law Offices of Michelle M. Funkenbusch should be sought privately.